Cutter



Aug. 24, l 1937. P. KIRBACH 2,090, 730A CUTTER Original Filed Deo. 6, 1933 PETER K1 REACH @rms ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 24, 1937 UNITE ATENT GFFICE implication December 6, 1933, Serial No. I101,166 Renewed January 18, 1937 7 Claims.

This invention relates to cutters and has for its object the production of a device of this cli-aracter particularly adaptable for use in connection with the manipulation and forming of dough and the delivery thereof to the cooking receptacle or vessel.

With the above and other objects in View, as will be apparent, this invention consists in the construction, combination and arr-angement oi parts all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Fig. l is a side elevation of a cutter constructed in accordance with the present invention with parts thereof broken aw-ay to illustrate the details of the construction thereof: and

Fig. 2 is an irregular horizontal section taken along line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

While thev present invention may be or" general application, it is designed primarily for they cutting and forming of doughnuts wherein a ring of dough surrounds a central aperture.

Doughnuts, as is well known, yare cooked in hot fat or grease and heretofore, particularly in the production of domestic doughnuts, the dough has been rolled upon a supporting surface or block, after which a cutter is used for severing and forming the individual dough masses. It has then been necessary to individually lift each formed dough mass and place it in the cooking receptacle. This has resulted in the distortion of the dough mass and is, generally speaking, an unsatisfactory and laborious process.

The present invention is designed to cut and form the individual dough mass for delivery to the cooking receptacle and to retain each cut 'and formed dough mass within the cutter for delivery to the cooking vessel. In other words, the present invention contemplates a single cut- .40 ting, forming and delivering operation and eliminates the manual transfer of the cut and formed dough mass to the cooking receptacle after the cutting and forming thereof.

Reference being had more particularly to the 4 5 drawing, I0 designates a cutting shell open at one end and closed by the wall Il at the opposite end. Obviously, while this shell I is illustrated as being circular, it may be of any desired shape and construction. The wall il is provided 50 with a central aperture I2 in which is inserted :5 I0. This tube I3 constitutes the corer by means of which an opening is provided in the center of the formed dough mass and it is, of course, to be understood that this tube I3 while being illustrated as being round concentric to the shell I0 may be of any suitable shape and in fact, if it is desired to deliver solid formed dough masses, may be entirely eliminated. In operation the open end of the shell I0 is placed upon the rolled dough mass positioned upon a suitable supporting surface or block. Pressure is then applied to the shell which results in` the corresponding edges of the shell I0 and the tube I3 cutting through the dough mass creating a ring of dough between the tube I3 and the shell I0. The core which is cut out is within the tube I3 and may be removed therefrom in any suitable manner.

The present invention contemplates retaining the dough ring thus formed within the shell for immediate and direct delivery to the cooking vessel or receptacle where it is discharged.

Within the shell I0 and positioned between the tube I3 and the wall of the shell is an ejection plate I4 completely filling the space between the tube and the shell and normally occupying a position substantially parallel to the wall or closed end Il of the shell I0. For the operation of the ejection plate I4 two parallel rods I5 pierce the wall I I of the shell I0 and project upwardly therefrom. At their upper ends these rods I5 are connected by a transverse gripping bar I6 which is rigidly secured to the outer terminals of the rods I 5 and which includes bearing members I'I projecting beyond the rods I5. At their lower ends, and within the shell I0, each of the rods I5 is off-set laterally, as at I 3, and are connected beyond said off-set portion directly to the plate I4. Thus, 4it is apparent that by manipulating the gripping bar I6, the rods I5 may be reciprocated through the wall II whereby a corresponding action or movement is imparted to the ejection plate I4 within the shell I0.

Upon each side of the rods I5 are the diametrically opposed handle bars I9 which at their lower ends are xedly secured to the wall II of the shell I9 adjoining the periphery thereof and in diametrical alignment with the rods I5. The upper end of these handle bars I9 are connected by a transverse gripping handle rigidly and xedly secured to the outer terminals of the handle bars I9. This gripping handle 20 is substantially parallel to the gripping bar I6. The bearing members II of the gripping bar I6 are orificed to permit the handle bars I9 to pass therethrough whereby the gripping bar I6 may freely slide upon the handle bars I9. Coil springs 2| are interposed between th'e terminals of the handle 23 and the bearings I1 of the gripping bar I6 which normally tend to force the gripping bar I6 and rods i5 together with the plate I4 toward the open end of the shell I0.

To limit this downward movement of the bar IS so that when the plate l 4 reaches a point where it is aligned with the outer cutting edge of the 1o shell Ill and tube I3 the movement is arrested by a sleeve 2'?. mounted upon each of the handle bars it adjoining the wall II of the shell I.

When the ejection plate I4 is aligned with the cutting edges oi the tube I3 and shell I0 the bearing projections I1 of the gripping bar I6 contact with the outer ends of the sleeves 22.

In operation the hand oi the operator engages the handle 26 with one or more fingers contacting with the gripping bar I5. As the palm of the hand of the operator exerts a pressure upon the handle 2li, which pressure is transmitted through the bars l'l to the shell Iii and tube I3, the fingers contacting with the gripping bar It move the latter outwardly upon the bars I9 toward the handle 2li and against the action of the springs El. Consequently, while the shell Iii and tube I3 pass through the dough mass upon the block or supporting surface, the plate I4 retracts to a point within the shell i9 adjoining the wall II and is there held so long as the hand of the operator engages the gripping bar IG and maintains it in a position adjoining the handle 20. The cut and formed dough mass is then contained within the shell I 9 between the wall of the shell and the tube I3.. Under normal conditions the cutter may be then lifted and moved to a position over the cooking receptacle the cut and formed dough mass being retained within the shell Ill during this operation. When the cutter is positioned 4 0 above the cooking receptacle the operator may then release the gripping bar I6 whereupon the springs 2| force the bai` I5 and rods I5 together with the plate toward the open end of the shell It until the bearing members I1 of the bar I6 45 contact with the outer ends of the sleeves 22.

After this is accomplished the plate I4 in traveling toward the open end of the shell ID forces the cut and formed dough mass from the shell Iil and causes it to drop into the cooking receptacle.

50 It is obvious therefore, that by the use of the present cutter, as above described, the cutting, forming and delivering of the cut and formed dough rnass to the cooking receptacle is a single unitary operation accomplished by a single tool and without any additional steps whatever.

If it is desired additional means may be provided to maintain the out and formed dough mass within the shell IG during its transfer from the block or supporting surface to the cooking vessel e0 or receptacle. For this purpose a pair of ears 23 are provided on the outer surface of the side wall of the shell Iii in alignment with the bars I9 and rods I5. Pivoted between each of these pair of ears is a lever 24 terminating at its lower G5 end in a transverse tooth 25 which may pass under the outer edge of the shell Ill'. The upper end of the lever Z4 is flared outwardly as at 2B and is bent at substantially right angles to create an operating extension 21 which passes through the 7() side wall of the shell IB. At its inner end this operating extension 21 is provided with an opening 28 through vwhich one of the rods I5 passes. When the body of the lever 24 rests substantially flush against the outer surface of the side Wall l75 of the shell I0, the tooth 25 passes under the edge of said wall and projects to some extent over the space between the wall and the tube I3. On the contrary, when the flared terminal 26 rests flush against the outer surface of the wall of the shell Ill the tooth 25 is retracted and does not project over the space between the wall of the shell I0 and the tube i3. Therefore, when the body of the lever 24 rests against the wall, the passage of the dough from the space between the tube I3 and the wall of the shell IE) is impeded by the tooth 25 and reversely when the flared portion of the lever 24 rests against the wall of the shell I0, the passage of the dough from the space between the tube I3 and the wall of the shell Il] is uninipeded.

It is to be observed that the operating eXtensions 21 of the levers 24 project into the shell I0 between the wall Il thereof and the plate I4.

When the elements are in the position shown in Fig. l, the laterally oir-set portions I8 of the rods I5 are within the openings 28 of the operating extensions 21 of the levers 24. Thus, by virtue of the off-sets I8, the operating extensions 21 are moved outwardly to position the levers 24 substantially iiush against the wall of the shell IE). Thus, when the cut and formed dough mass is positioned between the Shell I0 and the tube I3, the teeth 25 are positioned as illustrated in Fig. l and provide an additional security in holding the dough mass within the shell I0 during the transfer thereof to the cooking receptacle. When the bar I6 is released and moved toward the `wall II of the shell I0, the initial movement of the rods I5 under the influence of the springs 2|, causes the inner ends of the operating extensions 21 to travel along the curved olf-set portions I8 of the rods I5 until the bodies of the rods are operating through the openings 28 of such extensions. This causes the operating extensions 21 to move inwardly positioning the flared portions 26 of the levers 24 against the wall of the shell I and retracting the teeth 25 so that the plate I 4 may quickly and easily eject the cut and formed dough mass without interference from the teeth 25. This retracting of the teeth 25 is accomplished as above noted at the initial movement of the rods I5 and plate I4 within the shell. When the bar I is elevated against the action of the springs 2I during the cutting and forming of another dough mass the teeth 25 are projected across the space between the wall of the shell I0 and the tube I3 at the end of a movement of the plate I4 away from the open end of the shell so that the out and formed dough mass is within the shell I0 prior to the projection of the teeth across the cutting edge of the shell I 0.

From the foregoing it is manifest that the present invention, with or without the levers 24 and teeth 25, cuts and forms dough masses and transfers and delivers them to the cooking vessel. Manifestly, any shape and size of shell I0 may be employed and the tube I3 may or may not be incorporated in the device dependent upon the desired character of the cut and formed dough mass. Furthermore, it is obvious that a plurality of the present cutters may be incorporated in a single unit and operated simultaneously so that more than one cut and formed dough mass may be created at the same time.

What is claimed isz- 1. The combination with a shell having one end open, of a plate mounted for movement in said shell, bars on said shell, rods secured to said plate, a gripping bar connecting said rods and slideably mounted on the bars aforesaid, and means mounted on the bars and coacting with the gripping bar, for moving the plate toward the open end of the shell.

2. The combination with a shell having one end open, of a plate mounted for movement in said shell, bars on said shell, rods secured to said plate, a gripping bar connecting said rods and slideably mounted on the bars aforesaid, a handle connecting said bars parallel to said gripping bar, and springs interposed between the handle and the gripping bar.

3. The combination with a shell having one end open, of a plate mounted for movement in said shell, bars fixed to said shell, a handle connecting the outer ends of said bars, rods secured to said plate, a gripping bar connecting the ends of said rods, and springs interposed between said handle and said gripping bar to move the plate toward the open end of the shell.

4. The combination with a shell having one end open, of a plate mounted for movement in said shell, bars xed to Said shell, a handle connecting the outer ends of said bars, rods secured to said plate, a gripping bar connecting the ends of said rods, springs mounted on said bars and interposed between the handle and gripping bar for moving the plate toward the open end of the shell, and means for retaining the contents within the shell when the plate is remote from the open end thereof.

5. The combination with a shell having one end open, a plate mounted for movement therein, means for moving said plate toward and from the open end of the shell, and means mounted on the shell under the control of the movement of the plate for retaining dough masses therein.

6. The combination with a shell having one end open, a plate mounted for movement therein, means for moving said plate toward and from the open end of the shell, and means mounted on the shell under the control of the movement of the plate for retaining dough masses therein when the plate is remote from the open end of the shell.

'7. The combination with a shell open at one end, of a handle therefor comprising a section xed t0 said shell and a section moveable relatively thereto, a plate mounted for movement in said shell and connected to said moveable handle section, means for moving said handle sections relatively to cause said plate to eject a dough mass from the open end of said shell, teeth mounted on said shell to be projected across the open end thereof, and means under the control of said plate for retracting said teeth as the plate moves to eject a dough mass.

PETER KIRBACH. 

